I have no idea which shoulder the Anbu tattoos go....I heard that men have it on the left and women on the right but I'm not sure so I gave them both on their left. :3

The cool shade of the tree provided some shelter from the sun for the silver haired Hatake who sat leaning against its bark. He looked up, lost in thought with birds chirping over head, filling the training ground with the gentle noise.

Kakashi tore his eye away from the moving leaves and turned to his right hand, holding it up. His desolate eye staring at it emptily.

"Kakashi, you shouldn't use that jutsu anymore," Minato's words echoed in his head. The memory of the first time he ever used that jutsu resurfacing.

"From what I could see, your focused, concentrated attack undoubtedly has power and speed...But it makes you move too fast to be able to ascertain your opponent's counterattack...It's still and imperfect jutsu."

Kakashi stood up, leaving the cool shade of the tree and stepping out into the sunlight, 'Those were Minato sensei's words back then...' He thought to himself, bringing his left hand to his headband, 'Obito...' He lifted it, revealing a blood red eye.

He could almost hear them, Obito's final words, telling him to take the Sharingan, telling him that he was a great jonin...Something Kakashi very much doubted now.

Obito had given Kakashi this gift in hopes it would help him protect the ones around him...and he failed.

  With that fact haunting his mind, Kakashi brought his hands together, '...When Chidori and Sharingan became one...it became a complete jutsu.'

He gritted his teeth, 'But... that jutsu took Rin's life.'

Kakashi quickly made the hand signs, ones he had not done for moths, "Chidori!"

Lightning crackled in his right hand , painting his face and surroundings in a blue hue as his eyes stared down at it. Focused soley on the light...and on the memories that came with it.

A sickening crunch, the scared face of a long time friend, and his hand through her chest.

"Kch!" Kakashi let out a hiss as the lightning disappeared from his hands. He couldn't do it. He just couldn't.

A figure landed on the ground, making Kakashi drop his empty hand immediately.

"So this is where you've been!" Guy half-shouted as he stood up from his crouched landing. His green chunin vest clinging to the rest of his green outfit.

The bushy browed teen stepped closer, "You have a mission. You've been summoned immediately."

Kakashi stayed silent.

Guy blinked, waiting for a response, his eyes widening as he realized he wouldn't get one, not when the silver haired teen refused to look at him, his sharp gaze trained on the grass.

Guy gulped.

A knock at the door of the Hokage office made Minato look up, "Enter." Kakashi walked in, closing the door behind him.

The office was just the same as always. The walls were the same, the flooring was the same, the desk looked the same...the only difference was the blonde with a large, white, heavy sleeved and collared cloak sitting in a large blue chair, the view of the village he was now in charge of behind him.

"There's a mission?" Kakashi asked, making his way to stand in front of the desk.

"Hai," Minato nodded, standing up from his seat, "I want you to retrieve the documents related to the peace treaty."

"Uh..." Kakashi blinked but Minato continued.

"There are still some shinobi who desire war. And there are rumors that they are trying to steal the documents to create discord."

The teen furrowed his brows in confusion, "Yes but...wouldn't Ahsoka be more qualified for a mission like this?"

Indeed this mission required one to be hasty and to be aware of one's surroundings at all times. The perfect fit for the auburn haired girl.

Minato looked down at the desk, passing a hand over the papers, "You're right. But Ahsoka is...busy at the moment." The slight slip up in his sensei's words was something Kakashi didn't miss, and only confused him more.

Minato quickly looked up, blue eyes locking with Kakashi's, "So please do your best in this mission."

Kakashi didn't dare ask before saying, "Hai."

Birds chirped in the forest as Ahsoka gaped at a certain Sanin, "You've got to be kidding me..."

"No, why would I be joking about this?" Jiraiya responded. The giggles of the group of young women echoed from the near by waterfall, hidden from the two by the foliage of trees and bushes.

"I'm not doing this," Ahsoka threw her palms up, raising her voice, "Nope. We are doing something else!"

"SHHH!" Jiraiya shushed her, then pointed at the waterfall with both arms, "This is perfect training!"

"It is wrong!" Ahsoka hissed, "And don't shush me!"

The white haired man crossed his arms,"I'm the teacher so we do as I say, or else no training. "

Ahsoka let out a frustrated sound. It was wrong, spying on these young women for a perv...but with that ultimatum...

"Fine." She huffed in defeat, reaching out with her chakra just the slightest bit, switching it to sensory mode.

She didn't have to do much, the three chakra signatures of the women hidden from view where as clear as day, "There's three women."

Jiraiya gave a pleased nod, "Good! Now...what are they doing?"

She sighed and crossed her arms, reaching out with more chakra , focusing her blank stare on the ground. She could sense them moving, her chakra bringing back information she could almost visualize as blue figures moving about.

Civilians, young women from the village out for a swim on a hot summers day, that she was sure of. If they had been shinobi their chakra would've been stronger. And she would have had to conceal her chakra from them...but that didn't seem to be the objective of today's training.

Ahsoka's gaze flickered up to Jiraiya, withdrawing her chakra, "They're playing from what I can tell by their irregular fast movements. Not shinobi."

The Sanin leaned down, placing his hands on his hips as he raised a skeptical brow at Ahsoka, "Are you sure they're playing?"

Ahsoka furrowed her brows, "Y-Yes? What else would they be doing?"

Jiraiya leaned closer, "But are you a hundred percent sure?"

She stammered, "Ye- No? This isn't an exact science, ya know?!"

The sage huffed, standing up straight again, "See that's the problem! You have to know exactly what's happening! When you are on a high ranked spy mission and their movements are not as clear, you can't just settle for 'I think so'. You have to be sure! Or else you might bring back false information based off your assumptions."

Ahsoka's brightly colored eyes stared at him for a moment longer before nodding, "Hai," Her serious expression suddenly changed as she glanced off to the side to mutter, "...they're definitely playing though."

Jiraiya ignored her and lifted his hands excitedly, "Alright! Now try to describe their movements with as much detail as possible."

Ahsoka took a deep breath, closing her eyes and bringing up her right hand to form the ram sign. This was definitely going to take more focus. She reached out again, feeling the three women still moving about.

Ahsoka furrowed her brows, concentrating, "The...the one on the left...," She tried to hone in on her exact movements, her ams, her legs, "...she is lifting her arms...she just moved them forwards.."

"Uh huh...keep going..." Jiraiya encouraged.

A bead of sweat ran down Ahsoka's cheek, but she didn't break focus, "..She- just splashed the-the taller one," She then honed in on the one that got splashed, "..The taller one just jerked back...She-She is now splashing back with her-right? No! her left arm..."

Jiraiya bobbed his head excitedly along with his hands, "Now...what are they wearing?"

"Um...I'm not sure..." Ahsoka scrunched her face, "From-From what I can sense there's a lack of fluttering movements. So probably tight bathing suits—"

Ahsoka cut herself off, the sound of low rumbling giggles disturbing her. She blinked as she opened her eyes, finding Jiraiya staring off dreamily with a perverted looking expression, his imagination running wild at the descriptions.

Ahsoka gaped at him in shock as his giggles continued.

"Hehe...Ahaha- UGWAHH" Jiraiya's sudden howl of pain echoed in the forest as he was slapped across the face by the raging auburnette.

"YOU PERVERT! I KNEW IT! I KNEW THIS WAS A BAD IDEA!" Ahsoka yelled as Jiraiya crashed onto the ground, her eyes blazing with fury, "WHY THE HELL WOULD I TRUST YOU WHEN THERE ARE WOMEN INVOLVED! PERVERT!"

The young women looked up from their splashing, heads whipping towards the forest, "Did you hear that?!"

"Yes, someone's watching!"

"Come on let's get out of here, quickly!" The three scrambled out of the water, grabbing their things before dashing off into the forest.

"Noo...Come back..." Jiraiya groaned, getting onto his elbows as the women fled before glaring at Ahsoka. The red mark across his face clearly visible, "Why do you always have to ruin the moment?!"

Ahsoka pointed at him angrily, "Why can't you control yourself for once?! This is serious!" Jiraiya groaned in protest, sitting up as he rubbed his cheek.

A soft thud on the grass behind her made Ahsoka turn, spotting an Anbu member wearing the usual uniform. A tank-top gray vest with a tint of color and the pale white mask resembling some sort of bird with two deep black holes for eyes, obscuring any visibility of where the person was looking...or at who.

A top ninja of the village, sent on the most dangerous and important missions.

"Sorry to interrupt," The man said, standing perfectly still,  "But your presence is required by the Hokage, Ahsoka Aoyama."

Jiraiya's face had turned serious at the unexpected arrival, all his goofiness gone as Ahsoka gaped curiously at the man over her shoulder.

The wind whipped at Kakashi's hair as he took a leap from another branch, his eye flickering to the right as a shadow passed by. His left hand immediately flew to his headband, uncovering his Sharingan as the shadow got closer.

He sped up, turning mid air to face a fully masked shinobi, focusing his blood red, three tomoe Sharingan on him.

Puffs of smoke suddenly appeared around the man as he made shadow clones, scattering them instantly.

Kakashi looked down at his hands as he quickly formed hand signs, 'I'll wrap this up...' He thought, gripping his right arm as he extended it.

"Chidori!" A sound like the shrill noise of a thousand birds chirping echoed as blue lightning erupted from Kakashi's palm. The light reflected off his stone cold face, ready to begin his strike.

'Kakashi...' The sudden sound of the familiar voice in his mind threw Kakashi off, making his eyes go wide as he gasped.

His mind was suddenly flooded by the clear image of blood dripping down the corner's of Rin's mouth as blue light of the Chidori illuminated her.

'Kakashi...' She said again, louder, 'Kakashi...' Again, more urgent.

The image suddenly became clearer. Rin's familiar brown eyes appeared, yet she didn't look scared like he remembered....she looked angry.

'Kakashi!' Rin shouted, the blue lightning suddenly turned blood red as her furious eyes stared him down with hatred.

The Chidori extinguished from Kakashi's palm as the man and his clones surged forward. They quickly surrounded him, swirling in circles around the teen. Kakashi gasped, snapping his eyes away from his hand before dropping to the forest floor.

And so did the clones...

They landed in a circle, trapping him, "Die!" One shouted, a knife in hand as they all ran forwards towards the silver-haired Hatake.

Suddenly, a figure landed, bringing his orange and green clad leg into a wide kick, "Severe Leaf Hurricanes!" Huge gusts of wind turned the shadows clones into smoke as they hit the trees, crying out helplessly.

"Another one?" The real one cursed, catching himself before leaping away as two more Anbu members landed.

"Futon, Gale Surge!" A blast of wind from an unknown figure slammed into the man, sending him crashing back down to the floor with a cry.

The figure landed gracefully, honey-colored eyes locked on the man as the two Anbu members sprinted past her, apprehending her catch.

Guy kicked up dirt as he drifted to a halt next to Ahsoka. They both quickly turned to look over their shoulders at Kakashi, who stood in the center of their make-shift formation.

"Kakashi! This isn't like you! Why were you spaced out?!" The eccentric teen scolded his rival as Ahsoka watched, face blank.

"So-Sorry," Kakashi managed to say, voice shaking with effort as his body trembled. His face suddenly contorted in pain.

Kakashi saw their stern expressions quickly change into pure concern as his vision began to blur.

"Kakashi?" Ahsoka said as she extended a hand, voice and eyes laced with worry as she and Guy turned to fully face him.

Kakashi dropped to his knees, bracing a hand on the floor as he panted heavily. Eyes closed as he felt his lungs constricting painfully in his chest.

"Kakashi!" Ahsoka called out, immediately running to his side and falling to her knees.

Guy was right behind her, dropping to the floor as well, "Get a hold of yourself!" But the teen couldn't. Not as he struggled to pry his eyes open, peeking at their blurry distressed faces swimming in front of him as they called his name.

Silence filled the office as Guy stood still in front of the desk, not moving a muscles as he waited for the Hokage to speak.

"I see..." Minato finally said.

"Yes..." Guy responded. He stayed silent for a second, his face taking on a more candid look before saying, "I've never seen Kakashi like that."

Minato nodded slightly, "I'm glad I secretly sent you guys." He said, his voice as calm and collected as always.

Guy brought up a fist, gripping it tightly, "To help him at a time like this...That's what an eternal rivals is for!" He dramatically turned, closing his eyes and gripping his fist tighter, "That's what I believe, but...He and Ahsoka are going through something unthinkable...How could I ever-"

"You've already done a lot," Minato's voice interrupted as he stood from his chair, amusement at Guy's theatric's dancing in his eyes, "Will you let me do the rest?" He smiled kindly at the exuberant boy before turning to face the window.

Guy stopped, opening his eyes and dropping his arm as his Hokage stared down at the village. Minato hadn't missed the fact that Ahsoka wasn't there to report...but he had a pretty good idea where she might be.

Kakashi slowly opened his eyes, waking up to the sounds of birds outside and the sunlight streaming in through the open windows blocked only by the softly moving curtains.

And Ahsoka lounging on a chair by his bedside, gazing out the window with her chin in her hand, her face a mix of sereneness and solemnity.

He gaped at her, at the distant look in her eyes, at the effortless grace in the way she sat, at the tension in her brows despite her relaxed state, at the fact that she was right there.

Ahsoka...

She whipped her head towards him and Kakashi realized he had said her name out loud. Her expression quickly turned to one of perhaps relief though.

"You're awake," She smiled gently, " You gave us quite the scare in the forest..."

Hospital, he was in the hospital...

Kakashi swallowed dryly, "Ahsoka...wha-" He shifted into a sitting position, the bed sheets slipping off his torso, noticing that his outer gear had been taken off, leaving him in his dark gray tank top, headband, and pants.

"-What are you doing here?" He asked, she looked taken aback for a second.

Then she smiled softly, "Didn't I tell you? I'm sticking by your side...whether you like it or not."

Kakashi's eye widened.

Those were words she said to him that day, standing in her hospital gown, the orange light of the tired sun lighting her like a halo...he remembered it well.

He remembered that moment every time he felt himself his mind wander off to dark places.

She pointed straight at him, leaning forward, furrowed brows and tearful eyes focused on him, "You better not think that you're going to be alone now! I'm sticking by you forever and ever, as if-as if I was covered in super glue!" Her voice broke, "So you better get used to it!"

His wide eye only gaped at her. That's what she had said- what she promised him.

Ahsoka's eyes fell on her lap, "About what happened..."

Kakashi immediately tensed. He broke during a mission, he broke in front of everyone- If Guy and Ahsoka hadn't arrived when they did...

"It was nothing," He said, quickly looking away, "It won't happen again."

Ahsoka stared at him, mouth agape, "I- I was going to say..." Kakashi dared to look at her again, finding her looking at her lap once more, her hands fidgeting, "...that it happens. It happens to me too." Her voice dropped to a whisper with the last words.

The implications settled on him like a sinking stone...She had been dealing with the weight of it all these months just as he had. He had known this. But it didn't seem real, not for the girl who always put on a smile.

Ahsoka's soft voice was nothing more than a murmur as she spoke,"The truth is, it happens quiet a lot..." Her hands stopped fidgeting, eyes still focused below behind heavy lidded eyes, "That feeling of not being able to breath...that weight...it's like being trapped."

The deep empty feeling sank even lower. She had described it perfectly, that feeling of so much pain that your lungs run out of air.

Trapped. That is what he was. Trapped by his own god damned mind.

Ahsoka finally looked up, a quiet sadness in her eyes, but her smile was still comforting none the less, "So don't worry about it...no one will ever judge you on this."

Kakashi blinked before shifting his eye to look down at the bedsheets. That's when he saw a figure from the corner of his eye that was not there a second ago.

A blonde with stunning blue eyes and a long white heavy sleeved coat stood by the window, the breeze moving it gently along with the curtains.

Ahsoka let out a slight gasp as Kakashi immediately scrambled in his bedsheets, "Minato-sensei! I mean... Lord Fourth..."

Minato approached the two, carrying his usual serene look, "Address me as you always have."

"Then, Minato- sensei," Ahsoka began, "What's the matter?"

Minato placed a hand on his hip, "Some in the village think I'm not qualified for the position and oppose me."

Kakashi's eyes shifted down to the bed as Ahsoka's own strayed as well in thought.

That much was clear. Since taking office their sensei had faced a lot of back-lash, mainly from people who supported the other possible Fourth Hokage candidate...Orochimaru.

"I came here today..." Minato began, "...to assign you both to the Anbu under my direct control." Both of their heads immediately whipped towards their sensei, not bothering to hold back their gasps. 

"T-The Anbu?" Ahsoka asked in disbelief, wide eyes staring at him in shock.

Kakashi's almost exact expression suddenly melted as he turned in on himself, looking to the side before mumblin, "Why?"

Minato walked towards him, placing a hand on his shoulder, "Because I want you two to be my right-hands..."

Ahsoka's slight frown and furrowed brows captivated her unease perfectly, but Kakashi looked up, his onyx eye staring ahead...revealing nothing expect acceptance.

The darkness was not a bother as Ahsoka and Kakashi climbed the flight of stairs into the hidden underground building. The huge artificial light from above cast long shadows, capturing their every move, they were probably watching them too.

No... Ahsoka knew they were.

Yet despite the light, the darkness was still there, heavy in their surroundings where the lights of the compound marked with the sign 'ANBU' did not reach.

At the top, they finally leveled off, making their way towards the faded red double doors. Ahsoka walked on ahead as Kakashi stopped, looking down at his right hand where he held a book.

'HOW A SHINOBI SHOULD DIE.'

Ahsoka came to a stop, turning to look over her shoulder at her teammate who stood next to a trash-can.

"What's that?" She asked, noticing the book in his hand.

Kakashi stared at the title for a second longer before chucking into the trash, "It's nothing."

Ahsoka frowned slightly but didn't say anything as he approached, opening the creaking metal door to the compound without another word.

The long lone hallway into the building, with only the dim blue bulbs in the low ceiling, worked as a guide down the seemingly endless stretch. The end of it was not much better with a room dark room with a sign by the door reading,

'EQUIPMENT DEPARTMENT.'

Kakashi leaned against the wall with crossed arms while Ahsoka stood close by, one arm gripping the other's forearm as she stood leaning her weight on one leg, waiting for the man behind the metal bars of the counter to appear again.

The sound of trays hitting the counter made them both look up as the man spoke behind his Anbu mask, "Here are the gear sets for you." The two walked forward, each picking up their respective trays.

"Arigato gozaimasu."

The sounds clothes shuffling and gear strapping came from two separate rooms, both equal in the almost suffocating darkness of them.

A hand strapping the gauntlets, another in a different room putting on the boots. Kakashi sheathed a katana to his back, locking it in place as Ahsoka placed her flaming locks of auburn hair up into high ponytail.

Working in sync.

Kakashi stood, walking to the mirror, his reflection barely visible by the dim light streaming through the only small window in the room.

And so did Ahsoka, a red spiral tattoo shaped almost like fire adorning both of their left shoulders, both clad in dark grays and blacks.

Devoid of their headbands, Kakashi's loose, dull, and wild spiky silver hair contrasted with Ahsoka's two smooth bright locks that now framed her face and ran down her back.

Ahsoka lifted the mask she held tightly on her right hand, a movement Kakashi followed, clicking it in place with chakra as they lowered their hands.

Hound and Wolf.

Two sleek black holes for eyes stared back at Ahsoka's reflection as the Sharingan looked back at Kakashi, glowing red.

(Anbu uniform and Ahsoka's mask design. You can glimpse Kusanagi's hilt on her back but I did it crappily last minute bc I was lazy and almost forgot...oops. I'll eventually do a better drawing of Kusanagi so you guys can see it)

A/N: If Ahsoka's ANBU mask design looks familiar it's because I based it off a mask I found on Pinterest just FYI.

I don't know if it was ever CONFIRMED if Kakashi's ANBU code name was Hound but I'm using it since a lot of other fanfics do too. Ahsoka's is of course Wolf or (Ôkami) because of her summonings, same as Kakashi.

***Next chapter will be January 10th - January 15th ish